Balanced valve



April 16, 1935. L C, lRWlN .1,998,239

BALANGED VALVE Filed April 1o, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 April L. c. IRWIN 1,998,239 BALANCED VALVE Filed April 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i f A o i ||||lll Patented Apr. 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE BALANCED VALVE Lawrence C. Irwin, Garden City, N.

to Charles J. Tagliabue Mfg. Co.,

Y., assigner Brooklyn,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 10, 1933, Serial No. 665,294

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to balanced control valves, and particularly to pneumatically operated valves of the type known as V-port balanced valves. It is one of the objects of the invention to provide av valve of this kind wherein the valve-seat supporting parts within the body of the valve in the path of the iluid medium ilowing through the valve are so constructed and arranged that, when such medium is of a higher or lower temperature than the atmosphere surroundingthe valve, such parts are not exposed to large temperature dilerences and are thereby protected against distortion, so that fluid-tight engagement between the valve or valves and their seats at all times is insured.

It is a further object of the invention to simplify the construction of the valve head or disc and also of the valve body, and in particular to reduce the latter to a simple casting.

Balanced diaphragm-operated valves of the kind now in use are generally provided with a cylindrical Valve head cooperating with two axially spaced seats supported on the two arms of a usually horizontally disposed lU-member projecting into the interior of the body of the valve from one side of the latter, generally the inlet side. This arrangement not onlyproduces a rather complicated casting, but exposes such U- i shaped support to large differences in temperature between diierent portions thereof when the fluid medium controlled by the valve is much above or below the atmospheric temperature. These temperature differences arise as a result of the fact that the supported ends of the .U-supportare in contact or integral with the' body of the valveandy hence are under the heating .or cooling influence, as the case may be,` of the circumambient atmosphere; whereas, the inner part of theA U-support is constantly kin contact with the hot or cold fluid medium. The differences in temperature between the free and supported portions of the U-member produce thermal stresses which frequently are strong enough to distort and deform the seats and make thexn slightly oval, thereby preventing fluid-tight closing of the valve and causing leakage.

According to the present invention, the valve seat supporting structure is connected to the body or housing of the valve in such a manner that all portions of the material defining the seat or seats of the valve are substantially equally distant from such valve body and hence are at substantially the same temperature. The balancing of the valve is effected by providing three Cil compartments within the body of the valve arranged in series, that is, in line, one end compartment communicating with either the inlet or outlet of thev valve and being permanently connected with the "other end compartment, while 6 the middle compartment communicates with either the outlet or the inlet. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as applied to a balanced valve, wherein two seats are provided for the valve head or cylinder, one of the seats 10 is arranged within a web extending approximately diagonally from the inlet side of the valve body to the outlet side thereof, while the' other seat is arranged within a. ange forming part of cylindrical extension of the valve body. The fluid medium is afforded permanent access to the space within such cylindrical extension through the hollow interior of the valve head itself, so that substantially equal total pressures are exerted upon the valve head in opposite directions and the valve can be actuated by a diaphragm of small dimensions. The valve seats are preferably symmetrically positioned on axial alignment within the valve body, and are connected with the valve body by metal structure of approximately uniform radius or length, so that the rate of heating and of cooling of all parts of each valve seat is substantially the same.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and the elements of novelty will be set forth in the appended claims.

My invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example several embodiments of the invention. In said drawings,

Fig. l is a view in elevation partly in section showing a diaphragm-operated valve constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig, 2 is a. partial vertical section of the valve 40 shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, the valve being a reverse acting valve, that is, when pressure is applied to the diaphragm thereof the valve opens;

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections along the 45 lines 3`3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a central section through a'modied form of the invention, the saine comprising a direct acting valve, that is, one in which upon the application of pressure to the diaphragm of such valve, the valve closes;

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the invention, the same representing a reverse acting valve, and

Fig. 7 is a view of a valve constructed similarly 55 to that shown in Fig. 6 but illustrating a direct acting valve.

The valve illustrated in Fig. 1 is of the diaphragm operated type and comprises a valve body or housing I through Whose bonnet II extends a valve stem I2 which is connected with a plate I3 acted upon by the diaphragm I4. The plate I3 and the stem I2 are constantly urged upwardly by the spring I5. The diaphragm I4 is clamped between the spider support I6 and the imperiorate, arched plate I1, and is adapted to be subjected to air under pressure admitted through a pipe I8 into the space between the plate and diaphragm. 'I'he pipe I8 is connected with a source of compressed air and is controlled in any suitable manner. Upon the admission of air into the space above the diaphragm I4, the latter is depressed and the valve head within the body ||J is thereupon moved toward or from its closed position, depending upon whether the valve is of the direct or reverse acting type.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the valve stem I2 is connected with a cylindrical valve head I 9 which is provided upon its outer surface with axially spaced tapered shoulders 20 and 2|. These shoulders are arranged to cooperate with two axially spaced valve seats 22 and 23 to control the communication between the inlet side 24 and the outlet side 25 of the valve body. 'I'he valve seat 22 is arranged within a web member 26 extending approximately diagonally across the interior of the valve body from the inlet side to the outlet side thereof, very much in the manner of the seat-supporting web of a globe valve, as will be clear from Figs. 2 and 3, the web member dividing the interior of the valve body into two compartments which have access to each other only through the seat 22.

The seat 23 is positioned within an annular member 21 which forms part of a more or less cylindrical extension of the valve body, the member 21 being screwed upon the valve body. The interior of the extension is closed by means of a cap 28 which is in threaded connection with the member 21.

The valve head I 9 is hollow and in the embodiment illustrated is in permanent communication through a plurality o1' ports 29 with the inlet side 24 of the valve body. 'I'he ports 29 terminate just above the shoulder 20, so that when the valve is in the closed position shown in Fig. 2, the inlet side 24 is cut oi! from communication with the outlet side 25. 'Ihe steam, water or other iiuid medium fed by the valve is, however, permitted to flow through the ports 29 into the interior of the hollow valve head I9 and thence through passageways 29a into the space 3|) below the valve seat 23. The iluid medium has access to the top of the valve head vthrough the clearance between such head and the bonnet I I. 'Ihe valve head is thus subjected to the pressure of the iluid medium at both ends thereof so that, the total pressures in opposite directions on the valve head being practically equal, the valve is in substantially balancedcondition and only a comparatively small pressure on the diaphragm is required to move the valve against the tension of the spring I5.

Upon depression of the diaphragm I4 by the compressed air admitted through pipe I8, the valve head I9 is lowered, and when the lowermost ends of the ports 29 passbelow theseat 22, communication is established between the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body. 'I'he lowermost .ends of the ports are preferably tapered or V- 1,998,239 shaped as shown to facilitate throttling of the valve.

The construction shown in Fig. is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and similar parts have been designated with the same reference characters. The arrangement in Fig. 5, however, is such that upon depression of the valve stem I2, the valve head I9 is moved toward its closed position, the valve therefore being of the direct acting type.

It will be noted that the bonnet of the valve shown in Fig. 5 is similar in construction to the parts 21 and 28 of Fig. 2, and has therefore been designated by the reference characters 21a and 28a, while the cap I Ia of Fig. 5 is similar in construction to the bonnet II of Fig. 2; that is, the externally threaded portions of these parts 'are of the same size and will iit the same internally threaded connections on the valve bodies. By such design, the cap member of the one construction may be interchanged with the bonnet member of the other construction, and vice versa, so that by interchanging one part for the other, a reverse acting valve may be converted into a direct acting valve and vice versa. The cylindrical valve heads I9 are provided with internally threaded sockets 3| at the opposite ends thereof adapted to receive the headed endI of the `stem I2 which is held in position by the nut 32. It will be clear that to convert, say, the direct acting valve oi.' Fig. 5 into a reverse acting valve, it is necessary only to disassemble the valve body from the framework I6 and the stem I2, invert the body, replace the cap I Ia with a bonnet similar to the bonnet II of the valve of Fig. 2, .and replace the element 28a with the cap member 28, the valve stem being positioned in the opposite socket 3| of the valve head. In this way, the operation of a valve can be reversed with the aid of standard, stock parts. If desired, the parts may be so designed that the threaded portion of the member I I or 28a is of the same diameter as the threaded portion 28 or II a, respectively, of the same valve, so that the parts of the same valve may be interchanged and the valve stem connected with the opposite end of the valve head to reverse the operation oi.' the valve.

The sockets 3| are located in bridge -elements 3Ia in the hollow valve head, such bridge pieces being shown as positioned at right angles to each other. 'I'he passageways 29a are located between the elements 3Ia and the cylindrical body of the valve head.

The constructions shown in Figs. 6 and '7 correspond to the reverse and direct acting valves shown in Figs. 2 and 5 except that they are designed for heavy duty and are therefore made free of threaded connections leading to the exterior of the valve. 'I'hus the valve cap 33 in Fig. 6 and the valve bonnet 33a in Fig. 7 are clamped upon the valve body by means of screws 34 passing into threaded ilanges 35` on the valve body. Suitable packing 36 is interposed between the valve body and the cap or bonnet. It will be noted that inthe constructions of Figs. 6 and 7. the threaded` removable parts 21 and 21a or Figs. 2 and 5 are replaced by cylindrical extensions 31 and 38 integral with the main body of the valve; While the bonnet II of Fig. 6 and the extension I Ia of Fig. 7 are similarly integral with the valve body. 'I'he valves of Figs. 6 and 7 thus have a minimum of joints and are thereby rendered more nearly perfectly proof against leakage oi the high pressure medium flowing through the valves.

In all of the constructions illustrated on the drawings, the valve bonnets are provided with said valve body extending approximately diagshoulders 39 upon which rests the spider frame onally across the interior thereof and separating work I6 of the valve. The bonnets are provided theinlet from the outlet end, said web provided with reduced threaded extensions 40 which pass with a central opening and with a valve seat through suitable apertures in the frame I6 and about said opening, a second valve seat in axial 5 receive a clamping nut 4I. The valve stem I2 registry with said mst-mentioned valve seat, passes through a bore in the bonnet and is guided means defining a compartment to the interior of vwithin the extension 40 and passes through a which said second valve seat provides the only stuiling box 42 which serves to seal the space access, and a hollow cylindrical valve head passabout the stem I2 within the bonnet. Any suiting through said central opening, and through 10 able lubricating device 43 may be provided to the port defined by said second valve seat and y insure easy movement of the stem I2. provided with closure means for cooperating with Both the valve bodies and valve heads formboth of said valve seats for closing the ports coning parts of my improved construction are chartrolled thereby when the valve is in one of its acterized by extreme simplicity. The valve body limiting" positions, said valve seats facing said l5 of Figs. 2 and 5, moreover, can be used for both compartment and the closure means for the rst direct and reverse acting valves, while the valve valve seat being positioned on the valve head heads in all of the illustrated embodiments can upon the side of the web adjacent to the said be used in either a direct or reverse acting valve, compartment, said valve head extending beyond so that the two valves require a minimum of the said central opening in e direetien Op-POSite different parts for their manufacture, y to the second valve seat and provided with a It will be noted that in all of the embodiments port in the cylindrical wall of said extending porof the invention illustrated, the interior of the tion which iS positioned Wholly at One Side 0f the valve body is divided into three compartments, web when the valve head is in closed position and the valve heador oynnder having its ends in the permanently connecting the space at such side two end compartments and passing through the of said web with the interior of said compartment, middle compartment, the two end compart- Wheieby the OppOSite endS 0f Said valve are ments being in permanent communication so that subjected t0 the Same unit pieSSnieS, Seid port equal unit pressures are exerted upon the ends upon movement 0f the Valve head in the Opening of the valve head, direction being brought into communication with It will be understood that various modificathe space upon the other side of the web to contions of the form and arrangement of parts may neet the two spaces and cause flow of fluid from 'be resorted to within the scope of the appended the inlet t0 the Outlet 0f the Valve body.

claims without departing from the spirit of the 4- In e Valve Structure, the eolnbinetiOn 0f a invention. t valve body adapted to be connected to lead in and I claim; lead oi pipes at its inlet and outlet ends, a web 1. In a valve structure, the combination of a in Said Valve body extending approximately diagvalve body, an approximately diagonal web in onally across the interior thereof and separatthe interior of said body separating the inlet and ing the inlet from the Outlet end, Said web Dreoutlet ends thereof, said web having a port Vided With a Central Opening and With a Valve 40 through which communication between the in- Seat abOilt Said Opening, e Second valve seat in let and out1et ends of the valve body may be esaxial registry with said first-mentioned valve tablished, and being provided with valve Seat seat, a. substantially cylindrical extension below about Said port, a, hollow valve head adopted said second valve seat and closed at its outer end to cooperate with said seat to control said port t0 provide a Compartment Opening through Said 45 and extending at one ond into the space at one second valve seat to the space at the outlet side side of the web and being subjected to the pres- Pf the Web a hQllOW Cylindrical Valve head P955' sure at such side, means deiining a compartment mg through Said Central Opening and Provided in communication through Said valve head with with closure means cooperating with said seats Said space and sealed, when the valve head is in to close the ports therein when the valve head is the closed position, from the Space upon the in o ne of its limiting positions, said valve head other side of the web, the other end of said valve selmg the interior 0f Said compartment from head extendingr into said compartment and being. sala outlet Space and provlded Wlth a' pori' inthe cylindrical side wall thereof communicating with subjected to the pressure therein, said valve head being provided with a port in the portion thereof the inlet side of the valve body and adapted when 5o the valve is in its closed position to permit access extending into the rst-mentioned space when l the valve head is in the med pasti-lion, such port of fluid under pressure from the inlet side of the valve to the interior of said compartment to effect being then out of communication with the second-mentioned space and being movable into baiancmg of the Valve Sad valve Seats facing communication with the1atter to connect the two Sald Compartment and the Closure means for the 60 rst valve seat being positioned on the valve head spaces when the valve head is moved into the open position in the direction from the rst n the outlet Space'and Said port upon movement of the valve head in the opening direction vbespace tothe second space, and means for moving mg brought into communication with the outlet said valve head. 2. A va1ve structure as defined in claim 1, space to connect the two spaces and cause ow of 60 wherein said valve head is of cylindrical form, fluid freni the inlet t0 the Outlet 0f the Valve body. axially spaced'shoulders are on said valve head, 5. In a valve structure, the combination of a a. valve seat is at the entrance of said compartvalve body, a Web Within Said body dividing the ment, and said shoulders` are adapted to oointerior of the valve body into two compartments, operate with said seats, in the closed position one of sadeompartments being permanently in of the valve head, to seal said compartment from communication with the niiet end and the other the space at one side of the web. -with the outlet end of the valve body, said web 3, In a valve structure, the combination-,of a being provided with a port substantially centrally valve body adapted to be connected to lead in and thereof, a cy 'ndrical valve head cooperating with lead off pipes at its inlet and outlet ends, a web in said port to control the ow of fluid'from the Y inlet t'o the outlet endvof the body, one end of the valve head being permanently exposed to the pressure existing at one end of the valve body, and means whereby said pressure is communicated to the opposite end of the valve head so that the ends of said head are exposed to the same unit pressures, said means comprising an extension of the valve body providing a third compartment having a port controlling the access thereinto and arranged in axial registry with the port in the web, said ports provided with seats facing said third compartment, and said valve head adapted to cooperate with said seats to close the same in a limiting position thereof and arranged to move into said third compartment as it is brought to the open condition, and being hollow and provided with a port in the wall thereof positioned wholly in the compartment remote from the third compartment when the valve head is in closed position and permanently connecting such compartments, said port being brought into communication with the intermediate compartment when the valve head is moved into the open position in the direction of the third compartment.

6. In a valve structure, the combination of a valve body adapted to be connected to lead in and lead oi pipes at its inlet and outlet ends, a web in said valve body extending approximately diagonally across the interior thereof from one end to the otheigsad web provided with a central opening and with a valve seat about said opening, a hollow cylindrical valve head passing through the opening and provided with a shoulder adapted to engage said seat in a limiting position of the head, means whereby the unit pressure exerted upon the ends of the valve head are equalized, comprising an extension on said valve body providing a. compartment having a port in the wall thereof opening into the space at one side of the web, said cylindrical valve head extending through said port and sealing said compartment from said space, one end of the valve head being exposed to the pressure in the space at the other side of the web, said valve head provided with a port in the cylindrical side wall thereof communicating with the space at said other side of the web and terminating short of said shoulder in such manner that/when the valve head is in the closed position saidQl'ast-mentioned port is out of communicationT-with the rst-mentioned space, such vporta,constantly communicating the pressure of the second-mentioned space through the interior of the valve head to said compartment, so that the ends of the valve head are exposed to the same unit pressures.

7. In a valve structure, the combination, of a valve body, an approximately diagonal web in the interior of said body separating the inlet and outlet ends thereof, said web having a port through which communication between the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body may be established, and being provided with a valve seat about said port, a valve head adapted to cooperate with said seat to controlsaid port and extending at one end into the space at one side of the web and being subjected to the pressure at such side, means delining a compartment in communication through said valve head with said space and sealed, when the valve head is in the closed position, from the space upon the other side of the'web, the other end oi.' said valve head extending into said compartment and being subjected to the pressure therein, and means for moving said valve head, said valve head comprising a hollow cylinder opening into the compartment and having a port in the cylindrical wall thereof permanently connecting the first-mentioned space of said valve body with the interior of the cylinder and thereby with the interior of said compartment, said port so arranged that it establishes direct communication between the interior of the cylinder and the second-mentioned space of the valve body upon opening of the valve.

8. In a valve structure, the combination of a valve body, an approximately diagonal web in the interior of said body separating the inlet and outlet ends thereof, said web having a port through which communication between the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body may be established, and being provided with a valve seat about said port, a valve head adapted to cooperate with said seat to control said port and extending at one end into the space at one side of the web and being subjected to Lthe pressure at such side, means defining a compartment in communication through said valve head with said space and sealed, when the valve head is in the closed position, from the space upon the other side of the web, the other end. of said valve head extending into said compartment and being subjected to the pressure therein, and means for moving said valve head, said valve head comprising a hollow cylinder opening into the compartment and having a port in the wall thereof permanently connecting the first-mentioned space of the valve body with the interior of the cylinder, said port being of V-shape and so arranged that it establishes direct communication between the interior of the cylinder and the second-mentioned space of the valve body upon opening of the valve.

9. A balanced valve comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a web integral withl the housing and dividing the same into two compartments which are connected respectively with the inlet and outlet of the housing, said web extending across the interior of the housing from the inlet side to the outlet side and having a port positioned centrally thereof, a hollow cylindrical valve head passing through said port and having a shoulder cooperating with the periphery thereof to control the communication between the two compartments, and means deilning a third compartment and presenting a port in alignment with the first port and leading into said third compartment, said valve head extending through said second port and having a shoulder cooperating with the periphery thereof to seal the third compartment, the ends of said valve head being located in the end compartments and the intermediate portion thereof penetrating the middle compartment, said valve head having a port in the cylindrical wall thereof extending from said first shoulder in a direction opposite to that of said second shoulder and establishing permanent communication through the interior of the valve head between the two end compartments, whereby equal unit pressures are exerted on the ends-of the valve head and movement thereof is facili-l tated, said last-mentioned port, upon opening movement of the valve head in the direction of the third compartment, being brought into communication with the intermediate compartment.

LAWRENCE C. IRWIN. 

